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Iran seeking the man to step into al Maliki’s shoes

Hugh Tomlinson

June 23 2014, 1:02am, The Times

Nouri Al-Maliki served as an Iranian proxy in Baghdad since 2006Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images

Iran is considering possible candidates to replace Iraq’s embattled prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, amid mounting calls for him to step aside as part of a political solution to the crisis ravaging the country.

The two-week offensive spearheaded by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (Isis) has forced Tehran to reassess its support for Mr al-Maliki, who has served as an Iranian proxy in Baghdad since 2006.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, remains hopeful that Mr al-Maliki can cling on. In a bid to head off calls for his resignation, Tehran is ready to demand he appoints Sunni officials to his cabinet, rebuilding a power- sharing government that would isolate the extremists.